California’s newly proposed congressional maps would turn Los Angeles County’s most competitive district bluer.
And that would theoretically make it easier for the first-term Democratic Rep. George Whitesides to win re-election in 2026, thanks to the proposed, mid-cycle redistricting maps put forth by Democrats last week.
RELATED: Maps: New California congressional districts, proposed by House Democrats
On the flip side, a San Fernando Valley district represented by Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman would gain Republican voters as it picks up more of Ventura County, including Simi Valley. Similarly, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia‘s district in south L.A. County would be reconfigured to include parts of Orange County and would make that district less blue.
The proposed maps — which the Democrat-led state legislature is expected to vote on this week and which would need to be approved by California voters in November to take effect — would also create a new district in southeastern L.A. County that county Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis is rumored to be considering a run for.
California Democrats stress that a special election would only be triggered if Texas or other Republican-led states, prompted by President Donald Trump, follow through on their own redistricting efforts as those states attempt to pick up extra GOP seats in next year’s midterm elections to ensure that Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Here’s a closer look at how the proposed changes could impact congressional districts in L.A. County.
27th Congressional District
One likely beneficiary of the redrawn maps would be Whitesides, a Democrat from the Antelope Valley who ousted Republican incumbent Mike Garcia last year in one of L.A. County’s most competitive districts. Whitesides is a prime target for Republicans in 2026.
Under the proposed new map, the district would continue to include Lancaster, Palmdale and Santa Clarita. It would drop further down into the San Fernando Valley, picking up Reseda and Lake Balboa.
The 27th District used to be a conservative stronghold, but it became more purple over the past decade as a result of the last redistricting effort in 2021 and as demographics shifted.
As it stands, the district leans Democrat, according to the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.
The current voter breakdown in this district is 40% Democrats and 30.5% Republicans, according to the California secretary of state’s office. Under the proposed map, it would become 42% Democrats and 27% Republicans, with another 29% identifying as no party preference or with a third party.
Matt Rexroad, an attorney and Republican redistricting consultant, said Whitesides — a prime target for Republicans in the midterms — would be “heavily favored to win” reelection under the new scenario. That would allow Democrats to redirect their time and money toward other competitive races, and Whitesides could focus more on helping other Democrats get elected rather than his own race.
Veteran Democratic strategist Mike Trujillo, meanwhile, said it will be interesting to hear if anyone thinks residents in the San Fernando Valley have much in common with voters in Santa Clarita or Antelope valleys.
Even if affected residents in the San Fernando Valley don’t feel that’s the case, Trujillo said he believes all Democrats should be on board with the redistricting proposal.
“It’s incumbent upon every Democrat in California to do their part to stop Donald Trump,” Trujillo said. “If that means having a new congressmember for a few years, it’s not the worst thing in the world. That’s a pretty darn easy thing to deal with.”
32nd Congressional District
The 32nd District spans the west San Fernando Valley and Palisades area. Communities include Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, West Hills, Northridge and Chatsworth, as well as coastal areas like Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
The district now is about 50% registered Democrat, 21% Republican and 23% no party preference or other. It would become 47% Democrat, 23% Republican and 28% no party preference/other under the new map.
Although there would be an increase in conservative voters in the district, Trujillo still considers it a “safe” district for Democrats overall and believes the change would benefit Sherman, the current office holder, who is being primaried by fellow Democrats next year.
Because the district would become more Republican, Trujillo believes a Democratic challenger would need to come in first in the primary election to take out Sherman. Otherwise, he predicts the incumbent would more likely face off against a Republican in the general election, thus increasing Sherman’s chances of reelection.
“If you’re Brad Sherman, you’re happy” about the proposed map, Trujillo said.
38th Congressional District
The current 38th District is represented by Rep. Linda Sánchez, D-Whittier. But under the proposed maps, Whittier would become part of the 41st District, and a new district that would be numbered 38 would include communities in the San Gabriel Valley, including El Monte and Baldwin Park, as well as southeast L.A. County, such as Montebello. It would also extend into northeastern Orange County and include Yorba Linda.
This new district is the one that Solis, the L.A. County supervisor who can’t seek reelection to the Board of Supervisors again next year because she will be termed out, is rumored to be considering a run for.
Solis did not respond to a request for comment that was made through her office.
Rexroad noted that the proposed new 38th District would create another Latino-majority congressional district for California.
Sánchez, meanwhile, would have the option of running in the new 41st District, which would include communities like Whittier, Bell Gardens, Downey and Lakewood in L.A. County as well as La Habra and Brea in northern Orange County.
42nd Congressional District
The 42nd District would see a dramatic change, going from a district that’s entirely within L.A. County to one that shifts south into Orange County. The district would lose Lakewood, Downey and other communities in southeast L.A. County like Commerce and Huntington Park. At the same time, it would pick up cities like Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa in Orange County.
Garcia, a former Long Beach mayor, represents this district, which is currently 53% Democrat, 18% Republican and 23% no party preference or other. With the proposed map changes, the district would become 40% Democrat, 30% Republican and 28% no party preference or other.
“I love my current congressional district, but I understand the stakes. Democracy is on the line,” Garcia wrote in an X post last week after the proposed maps were made public. “When this new map is approved by voters, I look forward to running in the new 42nd district, made up of my hometown of Long Beach, coastal OC, Costa Mesa & South Santa Ana. Let’s go!”
Although the district would wind up with more Republican voters, it would still be an uphill battle for a Republican candidate. According to the proposed maps, the new district would be comprised of 40% registered Democratic voters, 30% Republicans and 28% who are registered no party preference or other.
“Congressman Robert Garcia … welcome to Huntington Beach,” Rexroad posted on social media. “That should be fun for all involved.”
SCNG’s Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed reporting.